Ajinkya Rahane to lead against Afghanistan, Ambati Rayudu included in ODI squad

8 May 2018

Ajinkya Rahane will lead the Indian side for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced on Tuesday (May 8).

Captain Virat Kohli signed a one-month deal with Surrey in June, and opted against returning for the Bengaluru Test. Instead, the 29-year-old will be taking part in the 2018 County Championship and the 2018 Royal London One Day Cup, as preparation for India’s upcoming tour of England later this year.

Seamers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested for the one-off Test. Shardul Thakur and Karun Nair have been named instead, along with the other members from the squad that toured South Africa. However, Rohit Sharma has been dropped from the side.

The BCCI also announced the T20I and ODI squad set to tour the British Isles. Siddharth Kaul and Ambati Rayudu, two players that have performed exceptionally well in the this year’s IPL, have been named in the side.

India will take on Afghanistan on June 14 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, marking the nation’s first Test after gaining Full Member status from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Following the one-off Test, India will play a T20I series against Ireland. Thereafter, they will take on England in three T20Is, three ODIs and five Tests.